When it comes to 3D printing, the sky is the limit. As 3D printing technology continues to advance, applications can be as far reaching as airplane and automobile parts to medical devices and even anatomically correct, biocompatible models. Although 3D printing technology is developing at a rapid pace, the technology itself is not new. It emerged in the 1980s as a means of creating rapid prototypes. In recent years the applications for 3D printed models have evolved with the available hardware, software, and printable materials. Evolving technology, paired with the creative and innovative minds of scientists, engineers, and physicians, has been the launching pad for developments within 3D printing technology specific to healthcare. One way 3D printing technology is poised to create better patient outcomes is in creating an anatomically and patient-specific models to aid in surgery and medical procedures. With the capability to 3D ...
On October 2011, Steve Jobs stepped down as chief executive officer of Apple but said he will remain the chairman of the company’s board. Amid the flurry of speculation about what the resignation could mean for Apple’s future, several reporters examined how Jobs’ minimalist but revolutionary ideas about design lead to changes in the appearance and composition of plastics materials.
Jobs has been called the Thomas Edison of our time because of the innovation he has brought forth over the past few decades. David Pogue of The New York Times describes Jobs in this way:
This news is rocking the world — and not just the tech world. Mr. Jobs, after all, has almost single-handedly reshaped a stunning range of industries: music, TV, movies, software, cellphones, and cloud computing. The products he’s shepherded into existence with single-minded vision read like a Top 10 list, or a Top 50 list, of the world’s most successful inventions: Macintosh. iPod. iPhone. iTunes. iMovie. iPad.
Jonathan Glancey of the guardian.co.uk writes that “one of Jobs’s greatest contributions to design was the promotion of Jonathan Ive, who became the senior vice president of industrial design at Apple Inc in 1998.” That year, bold color arrived. Apple introduced the iMac, a mix of brightly colored and translucent plastics, which Glancey described as “a bold attempt to break away from the dull world of beige and gray plastic computer cases.” Apple sold two million in the first year.
Fast forward to the sleek design and slick function of the iPhone and iPad, where everything from packaging to advertising became part of the product. Glancey writes:
These lightweight yet well-made, jewel-like objects, with their crystal-clear screens, finally imbued the design of computers and digital gizmos with a seductive quality. Once seen and touched, sales were made.
Jobs also had a hand in Apple’s material choices. And he listened to environmental activists. Plastics News editor Don Loepp writes that “for years, Greenpeace has pressured Apple to avoid PVC and brominated flame retardants.” In response, Loeppe writes, “Apple, indeed, has paid attention, and it has adjusted its material portfolio as a result of the campaign.” Loepp now wonders if Jobs’ resignation will impact Apple’s choice of plastics and material suppliers.
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